Using A VPN to Secure Your Android Mobile Phone

Android phones are the most extensively used smartphones in the world today. One of the major problems that Android users face is the security. Android is a freeware, and the source code of the OS is open for everyone. That makes it vulnerable to hackers. This is why Android users need to safeguard themselves. Although there are virus protection software and firewalls available on the Android marketplace, one of the best ways to ensure security is by using a personal VPN, or virtual private network. This will ensure that your Internet connection is not exploited by hackers.

Advantages of a Personal VPN on Your Android Phone

The first, and probably the most important advantage of using a secure Android VPN service is traffic encryption. Even if an intruder manages to access the Internet traffic from your phone, all they will encounter is encrypted data. They will not be able to decipher the data without your VPN login credentials. Another important security factor that virtual private networks add to your mobile phone is privacy. Much of the online tracking software uses IP addresses to track user behavior. You can avoid this tracking by using a secure personal VPN. The VPN replaces your IP address with one from the VPN server. The websites and online services you access will not be able to discern your location or build a profile of your online behavior.

Two Main VPN Protocols and Encryption Standards for Androids

Although there have been a number of networking protocols introduced in recent times, only two of are typically compatible with Android phones. They are Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IP security (L2TP/IPsec). The protocol used in a personal VPN will determine the complexity of the encryption that the data traffic undergoes. A higher encryption is harder to break. There are many standards used today but most Android phones employ 128-bit or 256-bit encryption. More encryption requires a faster processor. This can lead to slower connection speeds for users with slow processors. PPTP is popular with users who only need basic security and who want the fastest connections. L2TP/IPsec is valued by users who don’t mind sacrificing a minimal amount of connection speed in order to enjoy the best data protection.

Using the VPN on Your Phone

Once the VPN in USA is set up and enabled, it is used by default for all Internet activities. You do have the option of disabling it, but it is recommended that you don’t.